Cardinal Pell welcomes school chaplain plan

PM - Monday, 30 October , 2006 18:33:00

Reporter: Lindy Kerin

MARK COLVIN: There's been more criticism of the Federal Government's plan to introduce chaplains in the nation's schools.

Critics have described it as a divisive and "stupid political stunt".

The Prime Minister revealed the plan yesterday, announcing that $90-million would be made available for schools to appoint religious counsellors.

Today, John Howard defended the move and denied claims that it blurred the line between church and state.

The Catholic Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal George Pell, cautiously welcomed the idea.

He'll seek more details before a discussion with the Bishops.

Cardinal Pell spoke to Lindy Kerin.

GEORGE PELL: Well, first of all, it's nothing completely new. In I think the four major mainland states, apart from New South Wales, there are already school chaplains paid by the state governments.

So we'd be cautiously approving of it. We'd like to see just what it means, but it's … and the bishops are yet to meet to discuss it, but we'll look at it optimistically.

LINDY KERIN: Why cautiously welcomed?

GEORGE PELL: Well, it's something that's a little bit new to myself. There are talks about government vetting, of just who would be appropriate. I think there'd have to be public criteria, so that we could see just why somebody was rejected or not.

But it's early days, and we need to know a few more details about it.

To be a religious chaplain, a person would need to have some appropriate professional religious background, and at least some appropriate experience in dealing with young people and helping them.

LINDY KERIN: And what sort of guidance do you think the chaplains could provide to students?

GEORGE PELL: Well, the … it's not so much guidance, although that is one element of it, but support.

The pressures on young people today are very, very considerable.

For chaplains, people who have a gift for working with young people, they really are able to help them when they're confused or under pressure, depressed. There are all sorts of, especially in times of crisis, times of tragedy, but well short of that too, a good chaplain will be able to do, to offer all sorts of support.

LINDY KERIN: Some of the critics have said that this is a divisive plan, particularly for schools where there may be several, may be students from several different denominations. What's your response to that?

GEORGE PELL: Well, in many schools, most schools there are students from different faith traditions and different religious denominations. A very rough sort of parallel might be the chaplains in the armed forces, where they look after people of ever religion and no religion.

So I think the capacity for division is limited. There is some potential for trouble there, or even differences between the religious groupings, but they should be quite minor.

LINDY KERIN: Some critics have also said that the proposal blurs the line between church and state. What's your view on that?

GEORGE PELL: I think that's a bit overstated.

As I said, they already exist, these chaplains, in four of the mainland states. We're talking about schools, not about government. There's not suggestion it will be limited only to Christian ministers of religion. Everybody will have a bit of a go if they're invited by the parents. So I think that's drawing a long bow.

MARK COLVIN: The Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal George Pell, speaking to Lindy Kerin.